Swell_Ioanna_Karystiani
2012 Nominated

Swell

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

The moment of reckoning has come for Captain Mitsos Avgustìs. After twelve years at sea it is time to go home to the island on which he was born: home to his wife Flora, his two daughters, his son, a granddaughter he has never met, and Litsa, his lover from all those years ago; a modern-day Penelope awaiting the return of her Ulysses. It will take all Avgustìs’s courage and strength to face the squalls and storms on land after a lifetime at sea—and all the while, he must resist the ocean’s siren song bidding him return, tempting him back to the cargo vessel, the Athos III, that he so reluctantly left. It is there that his demons lurk, there that his terrible secrets are buried, there that his true home lies.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Ioanna
Karystiani

Ioanna Karystiani was born in Chania, Crete in 1952. She studied law and worked as a sketch artist. She appeared in the Greek literary sphere with a short story collection, Mrs Kataki, in 1994 and was honored with the State Literary Award for fiction for her second book Little England in 1998, which was also nominated for the Balkanika Literary Prize and the European Awards of Excellence. She has worked with director Pantelis Voulgaris on the screenplay for his film Deep Soul (Kastaniotis, 2009) and wrote the screenplays for his films Brides (Kastaniotis, 2004), Little England and The Last Note.

Ioanna Karystiani was born in Chania, Crete in 1952. She studied law and worked as a sketch artist. She appeared in the Greek literary sphere with a short story collection, Mrs Kataki, in 1994 and was honored with the State Literary Award for fiction for her second book Little England in 1998, which was also nominated for the Balkanika Literary Prize and the European Awards of Excellence. She has worked with director Pantelis Voulgaris on the screenplay for his film Deep Soul (Kastaniotis, 2009) and wrote the screenplays for his films Brides (Kastaniotis, 2004), Little England and The Last Note.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Konstantine
Matsoukas

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

An elderly captain refuses to retire from his ship. Through his vivid narration a great story unfolds in the seas of … From one of the best Greek women writers with a lyrical and poetical voice. A novel about love and hope, set in modern day Greece. Augustus will learn that no matter how many or how varied one’s experience of life has been, there is always something new to learn.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
Greece
Original Language
Greek
Publisher
Europa Editions
Translator
Konstantine Matsoukas

RELATED FEATURES

Video August 27 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Winner in Conversation

Watch 2026 Dublin Literary Award winner, Ali Smith, and author Belinda McKeon in conversation, which took place on 22nd May 2026 at the Dublin International Literature Festival
Video August 27 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony

Watch back the 2026 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony which took place on 21st May 2026
News May 21 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Winner Revealed

Discover this year's winner!
Video May 16 2026

Brigitte Giraud – Live Fast Q&A

Q&A Session with 2026 Dublin Literary Award shortlisted author Brigitte Giraud, author of Live Fast, exploring the inspirations behind her novel.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.